Central Asian jihadi groups affiliated with al-Qaida, the Islamic State (IS), and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) have sought to capitalize on Muslim anger over Israel’s bombardment of Gaza and mass marches in capitals around the world to support Palestinians.
Initially, Uzbek jihadi propagandists associated with Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), Katibat al-Tawhid wal Jihad (KTJ), and Katibat al-Guraba battalion (KG) were deeply influenced by the ruthless and violent Hamas assault on Israel on October 7. They extolled Hamas’ Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, drawing parallels to the military campaign led by Salahuddin Ayyubi, the great Muslim general in the 12th century who recaptured Jerusalem and the al-Aqsa Mosque from the Crusaders.
When the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) counterattacked with a substantial bombardment of Gaza to dismantle Hamas, Central Asian jihadi groups actively aligned themselves with the hateful anti-Jewish stance of al-Qaida and IS, calling on the entire Ummah, the community of Muslims, to “unite against the common American-Zionist enemy.”
Insights into the Narratives of Katibat al-Tawhid wal Jihad
In the wake of the resumption of conflict in the Middle East, Abdul Aziz, the Uzbek leader of Katibat al-Tawhid wal Jihad (KTJ), HTS’s powerful affiliate, released two video statements. In the first, posted on October 18, titled “On the Hamas Attack Against Jews,” he evaluated the Hamas attack as strategically calibrated and tactically sound, foreseeing a positive resolution to the long-standing Palestinian conflict in the future.
He drew a parallel between the Hamas attack and the initiation of guerrilla resistance by the Vietcong in North Vietnam in 1955 against the United States and their South Vietnamese allies. He asserted that the Vietcong’s attacks ultimately led to violent anti-war protests in the U.S., Richard Nixon’s resignation from the presidency, and the eventual ignominious withdrawal of the U.S. from Vietnam in 1975. According to him, much like the Vietcong, Hamas’s strategic goals will undoubtedly come to fruition, as the entire world has witnessed Israel’s plans to completely eradicate the Palestinians and occupy the sacred lands of al-Quds (Jerusalem), the first Qibla of the Prophet. Abdul Aziz believes that, following the sophisticated Hamas attack, Israel cannot take away al-Aqsa Mosque, as the Mujahideen around the world have united against the Jews.
The KTJ emir’s second video statement, titled “How Can We Help Palestine,” underscores his belief that Muslims worldwide should transcend regional, national, governmental, and sectarian divisions, uniting under the banner of the global Islamic Caliphate to collectively combat “Zionist–crusaders.” He urges Muslims to contribute to the cause of Palestine through various means, including dawah (missionary activity), dua (prayer), financial assistance, active engagement in holy jihad, and even sacrificing their lives. Abdul Aziz further asserts that the conflict with the Jews extends beyond the borders of Israel and Palestine to a global scale, emphasizing the deeply anti-Semitic imperative to rid the world of their presence.
But he stressed that his KTJ fighters cannot relocate to al-Quds for a holy jihad as their commitment lies in safeguarding the blessed Sham (Syria). Drawing parallels, he referenced Abdullah Azzam, a Palestinian Islamic scholar and ideology of al-Qaida, who, when asked why he didn’t engage in jihad in his homeland but migrated instead to Khorasan, asserted that his Afghan jihad would contribute to the liberation of Palestine. Similarly, Abdul Aziz believes that KTJ’s jihad in Syria contributes ultimately to the liberation of al-Quds.
Following the KTJ emir, Ahluddin Navqotiy, the group’s imam and prominent ideologist of Central Asian Sunni jihadism, issued several video statements on Palestine, urging Mujahideen worldwide to willingly sacrifice their lives for the sake of Allah with the aim of liberating Bayt al-Maqdis (another name for Jerusalem). He emphasized that this is not merely a conventional conflict between Palestine and Israel, but a veritable war between Islam and the American-Zionist allies. The outcome of this struggle, he asserted, will determine the fate of all Muslims. Consequently, he called upon the group’s supporters to actively engage in a global jihad against Zionism.
From KTJ’s statements concerning Palestine, one can infer that the Uzbek militant battalion aims to capitalize on the hostile anti-Jewish sentiments prevailing throughout the global Salafi-Jihadi movement, fueled by Israel’s “collective punishment” assault on Hamas in Gaza. In essence, KTJ, a steadfast ally of both al-Qaida and HTS, aims to seize the opportunity presented by the Israel-Hamas conflict to enhance its recruitment efforts and consolidate fragmented Central Asian jihadi groups under the common cause of defending the sacred land of al-Quds, though not necessarily with the intent to get actively involved.
Uzbek ISKP Propaganda: A Cry for Violence against Israel
Meanwhile, the Uzbek wing of ISKP, the Islamic State’s affiliate in Central Asia, aims to exploit the Israel-Hamas conflict to propagate violence and sectarian hatred through its Al-Azaim Media Foundation. Particularly, ISKP’s Uzbek branch, actively vocal since the early stages of the conflict, has disseminated numerous video, audio, and text statements on the Israel-Hamas war through its Telegram channels “Xuroson Lashkari” (Warrior of Khurasan) and “Xuroson Ovozi” (Voice of Khurasan). In these communications, it fervently urges its followers to carry out attacks against Jews globally, with a specific emphasis on targeting North America and Europe.
Initially, the Xuroson Ovozi republished an IS-Central Command editorial instruction “Practical Steps to Combat the Jews” from al-Naba (issue #413), in Uzbek, serving as a guide and ideological benchmark for the group’s propagandists on the Israel-Hamas conflict. Subsequently, following the directives of the IS core, Uzbek and Tajik propagandists have advocated for attacks on Jews and their “hypocritical infidel” allies.
Fueled by the fervor of the Islamic State’s extremist ideology, the Uzbek wing of ISKP has notably exceeded its ideological perseverance in propagating anti-Israeli violence and animosity, actively disseminating content on jihadi social media platforms. Set to the compositions of the renowned Uzbek jihadi songwriter Asadulloh Urganchiy, IS’s Uzbek battalion unveiled a nasheed (Jihadi song) advocating the orchestrated killing of Israeli children and women as a purported response to the tragic deaths of Palestinian children and women.
Financial Exploitation: Central Asian Militants Seeking Gains from Gaza
Throughout November, as the Israel-Hamas conflict continued, Central Asian Salafi-Jihadi groups in Afghanistan and Syria increasingly sought to capitalize on it for financial and ideological gains, as well as to recruit new members. Against the backdrop of the crisis, ISKP issued appeals in Uzbek to its supporters in Central Asia and Russia, urging financial support through the transfer of cryptocurrency to its accounts. Analytical findings indicate that IS sympathizers do indeed contribute sadaqah (charity), albeit in small amounts, through electronic funds.
Interestingly, Tajik KTJ militants in Syria have also made appeals to Central Asian migrants in Russia, encouraging them to gather cryptocurrency funds to send to Gaza in support of Palestinian Muslims. However, some experts on Islamic extremism harbor significant doubts regarding any actual connections between KTJ and Hamas.
Jihadists’ Desire: From Terrorism to Defenders of Islam
Indeed, current events are emboldening Central Asian terrorist groups, motivating them to persist in inciting their followers while showcasing their radical ideological savvy as defenders of the Islamic religion and the Muslim Ummah. They perceive a tangible opportunity to denounce Muslim governments as taghut (idolatrous) rulers due to what they deem as inadequate support for Palestine, presenting a bold image of jihadists in the eyes of Central Asian believers.
Uzbek jihadi propagandists from KTJ and Katiba al-Guraba (KG) have accused Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan, and the five Central Asian countries of betraying the interests of Islam, the holy land of Bayt al-Maqdis, and the al-Aqsa Mosque. In their media platforms, these Muslim governments are portrayed as puppets of Western powers, manipulated by American-Zionist conductors. They dismissed the recent conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Arab countries on Palestine as producing mere rhetoric, asserting that Israel paid no heed to these discussions.
Pro-KTJ propaganda Telegram channels, specifically “Tavhid Xabarlari” (Tawhid News), “Islam Jolu” (Path of Islam), and “Shom Minbari” (Minbar of Sham), criticized the fatwa issued by Kyrgyzstan’s Grand Mufti prohibiting participation in jihad in Palestine, as inconsistent with Shariah. They also derided decisions by Uzbek and Kyrgyz authorities to forbid rallies supporting Palestine as anti-Islamic and pro-Zionist (even though authorities in both countries have allowed some smaller demonstrations to proceed).
In the aftermath of the October 7 attack by Hamas, the Central Asian online landscape has witnessed the proliferation of new pro-Palestinian propaganda channels and group chats in Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Russian, and Tajik languages promoting violence against Israel. The names of these Telegram channels, such as “Proud Al-Aqsa,” “Free Al-Quds,” and “We are all Abu Ubayda” (referring to the spokesman of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas), convey their explicit stance. Hence, Central Asian terror groups position themselves as defenders of Islam, employing this justification to legitimize acts of violence – a narrative that spreads among ordinary believers.
The fact that some countries have not recognized Hamas as a terrorist organization plays into the hands of Central Asian jihadi groups, fostering the promotion of violence and sectarian hostility. Exploiting this situation, they criticize Central Asian and Western governments for designating them as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), asserting parity with Hamas as defenders of Islam.
Hamas: An Alien Jihad
Interestingly, while Central Asian Salafi-Jihadi groups affiliated with IS and al-Qaida attempt to capitalize on the Israel-Palestine conflict to call their supporters to defend Islam, they have refrained from praising Hamas as a like-minded Sunni jihadi movement. In fact, they have never engaged in jihad in the West Bank and Gaza, viewing the Palestinian intifada as “alien” to their objectives.
The Palestine issue was initially raised by Tahir Yuldash, the founder of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), in 2005. Evidently, he was influenced by the impactful oath of Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaida, and his jihadi mentor, who threatened to “expel all the infidel armies from the land of Muhammad” in the lead-up to the 9/11 attacks. Nevertheless, the IMU has never had contact with Hamas, as their views on a global Caliphate sharply differ. While the IMU pursues transnational goals, Hamas adheres to a narrow nationalist ideology.
Another factor that serves as a wedge between Central Asian jihadists and Hamas is the latter’s close ties with Shiite Iran and Lebanese Hezbollah. Uzbek hard-line groups harbor strong hostility towards Iran and its Shiite militant proxies, viewing them as polytheists and heretics, and derogatorily referring to them as rafidha (rejectionists). Furthermore, Ahluddin Navqotiy, the KTJ imam, recently called for the liberation of Gaza from both Zionist-Crusaders and Shiite rafidha. Evidently, he considers Shiites and Jews to be both implacable enemies of Sunni Muslims.
Conclusion
An analysis of the messages from IS and al-Qaida affiliated Central Asian groups reveals that both attempt to position themselves as the sole effective voice, and thus both are compelled to capitalize on the conflict in the Middle East. However, the primary distinction between the two lies in the tone of cruelty evident in their statements. While ISKP’s Uzbek and Tajik propagandists advocate for severe attacks against Jews worldwide, al-Qaida-linked KTJ and KG present themselves as paradoxically more moderate defenders of al-Quds. Al-Qaida supporters express their views more figuratively, stating that “the gates of al-Aqsa cannot be opened without jihad.”
Despite their fervent calls to liberate al-Aqsa, Central Asian Islamists lack the capability to translate their rhetoric into operational attacks on Israel. However, they are evidently poised to exploit the Israel-Hamas conflict to enhance their ideological appeal in the post-Soviet space and recruit new members. Given the religious significance of al-Quds and al-Aqsa for the Islamic world, it cannot be ruled out that their incitement to violence may resonate with some supporters and result in lone-wolf attacks in the West.
In conclusion, it is imperative to acknowledge that Central Asian groups have not played an independent role in the global theater of jihadi actions. Their operations have consistently been conducted under the auspices of al-Qaida, IS, and HTS. In the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, their focus will remain exclusively aligned with the decisions of their parent organizations.